Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFunctionDefinitionSymptomsLeptin LevelsImproving Levels
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Function
Definition
Symptoms
Leptin Levels
Improving Levels
Leptin is a hormone that makes you feel full. Leptin was only discovered in 1994, and scientists are still working to understand what leptin’s role is.
In most people the function of leptin is to decrease appetite and increase energy expenditure, helping you maintain a healthy body weight. However, many people with obesity have leptin resistance, meaning their brains don’t process the hormone effectively, so they frequently feel hungry. Over time, that can lead to obesity.
There aren’t any leptin supplements, but changing your diet or adopting a leptin-resistant diet may help fight off feelings of hunger that contribute to obesity.
This article covers leptin, what contributes to leptin resistance, and leptin’s role in obesity.
Carol Yepes / Getty Images
What Is the Function of Leptin?
In short, leptin prompts people to stop eating when they have enough fat stored on their body to be healthy. This helps people maintain a body size that’s healthy for them.
A Word From VerywellLeptin resistance occurs when the brain doesn’t respond properly to leptin, a hormone that helps regulate hunger and energy balance. Leptin resistance can be improved through a balanced diet rich in fiber and healthy fats, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep. Managing stress and avoiding ultra-processed foods are also important to restore leptin sensitivity and support overall metabolic health.—ISABELL CASIMIRO, MD, PHD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Leptin resistance occurs when the brain doesn’t respond properly to leptin, a hormone that helps regulate hunger and energy balance. Leptin resistance can be improved through a balanced diet rich in fiber and healthy fats, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep. Managing stress and avoiding ultra-processed foods are also important to restore leptin sensitivity and support overall metabolic health.—ISABELL CASIMIRO, MD, PHD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Leptin resistance occurs when the brain doesn’t respond properly to leptin, a hormone that helps regulate hunger and energy balance. Leptin resistance can be improved through a balanced diet rich in fiber and healthy fats, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep. Managing stress and avoiding ultra-processed foods are also important to restore leptin sensitivity and support overall metabolic health.
—ISABELL CASIMIRO, MD, PHD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
What Is Leptin Resistance?
Leptin resistance is a condition in which the brain does not respond to leptin as it should. Scientists are still learning about leptin resistance and what can cause it and worsen it. However, they have learned that leptin resistance is common in people who have obesity.
There are a few factors that contribute to leptin resistance, including:
Leptin Resistance and Obesity
Researchers have found that many people who have obesity have high levels of leptin in their blood but were less responsive to it.
One theory of leptin resistance is that the brain receptors become desensitized to leptin when levels are constantly high.This is similar to howinsulin resistanceoccurs, which is when the body doesn’t respond to insulin as it should.
People who are resistant to leptin frequently feel hungry. This causes them to eat more and gain weight. In addition, leptin signals your body to slow down metabolism because your body thinks it needs to store more fat, which can also contribute to weight gain. In turn, that weight gain and excess fat cells can contribute to leptin resistance.
Symptoms of Leptin Resistance
The symptoms of leptin resistance are:
Eventually, the weight gain associated with leptin resistance can contribute to complications of obesity, including cardiovascular disease and metabolic disease.
Leptin Receptor DeficiencyLeptin receptor deficiency is a rare genetic condition causing a person to be born with few leptin receptors. This causes them to eat constantly and develop obesity very early in life. Though related to leptin resistance, this condition is different and more severe. It occurs alongsidehypothalamic hypogonadism,another genetic condition that impacts hormone production.
Leptin Receptor Deficiency
Leptin receptor deficiency is a rare genetic condition causing a person to be born with few leptin receptors. This causes them to eat constantly and develop obesity very early in life. Though related to leptin resistance, this condition is different and more severe. It occurs alongsidehypothalamic hypogonadism,another genetic condition that impacts hormone production.
Understanding Leptin Levels
Leptin levels can be a bit confusing. When you have leptin resistance, you’ll actually have higher levels of leptin in your blood, because the body is not processing leptin correctly. So, higher levels are actually an indication of less leptin sensitivity.
What Are Normal Leptin Levels?
Scientists are still studying leptin levels and what’s healthy. One study found that leptin levels averaged about 6.45 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) in men, and 21 ng/mL in women. The study also found:
What Test Measures Leptin Levels?
Healthcare providers can measure leptin levels with a blood test.
What Happens When Leptin Levels Are Too High?
When your leptin levels are too high, your brain doesn’t process the hormone effectively. This leads to leptin resistance.
How to Improve Leptin Levels
Although there aren’t medical treatments for leptin resistance, research shows that dietary and lifestyle changes can help reverse leptin resistance. Try these changes to fight leptin resistance and improve your leptin sensitivity.
Avoid Processed Foods
Avoiding the simple carbohydrates and saturated fats found in high levels in ultra-processed foods can increase your blood leptin levels. That could contribute to leptin resistance.
Eat More Fiber
Getting more fiber can also decrease your leptin levels. A scientific review found that more fiber was associated with lower leptin levels in people with obesity.The study looked at all types of fiber sources, including fruits and vegetables and fiber supplements.
Reduce Your Fat Intake
Reducing fat intake, especially saturated fats, could help stabilize leptin levels. One study found that triglycerides, a type of fat, contribute to leptin resistance.
Get Enough Sleep
Being sleep deprived can raise your leptin levels and contribute to leptin resistance, one study found.
What Foods Are High in Leptin?
Summary
Eating a diet that’s high in fiber, low in unhealthy fats, and low in processed foods can help regulate leptin levels, but there are no medications or supplements that directly control leptin.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liu J, Yang X, Yu S, Zheng R.The leptin resistance. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2018 doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-1286-1_8Gruzdeva O, Borodkina D, Uchasova E, Dyleva Y, Barbarash O.Leptin resistance: Underlying mechanisms and diagnosis. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2019. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S182406.Mendoza-Herrera K, Florio AA, Moore M, et al.The leptin system and diet: A mini review of the current evidence. Front Endocrinol. 2021. doi: /10.3389/fendo.2021.749050MedlinePlus.Leptin receptor deficiency.Cheng J, Luo Y, Li Y, Zhang F, Zhang X, Zhou X, Ji L.Sex- and body mass index-specific reference intervals for serum leptin: a population based study in China. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2022. doi: 10.1186/s12986-022-00689-x.Saint Luke’s.Leptin (Blood).Martins GMDS, França AKTDC, Viola PCAF, Carvalho CA, Marques KDS, Santos AMD, Batalha MA, Alves JDA, Ribeiro CCC.Intake of ultra-processed foods is associated with inflammatory markers in Brazilian adolescents. Public Health Nutr. 2022. doi: 10.1017/S1368980021004523.Hassanzadeh-Rostami Z, Faghih S.Effect of dietary fiber on serum leptin level: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2021. doi: 10.1055/a-0998-3883.Banks WA, Farr SA, Salameh TS, Niehoff ML, Rhea EM, Morley JE, Hanson AJ, Hansen KM, Craft S.Triglycerides cross the blood-brain barrier and induce central leptin and insulin receptor resistance. Int J Obes (Lond). 2018. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2017.231.Mosavat M, Mirsanjari M, Arabiat D, Smyth A, Whitehead L.The Role of Sleep Curtailment on Leptin Levels in Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus. Obes Facts. 2021. doi: 10.1159/000514095.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liu J, Yang X, Yu S, Zheng R.The leptin resistance. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2018 doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-1286-1_8Gruzdeva O, Borodkina D, Uchasova E, Dyleva Y, Barbarash O.Leptin resistance: Underlying mechanisms and diagnosis. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2019. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S182406.Mendoza-Herrera K, Florio AA, Moore M, et al.The leptin system and diet: A mini review of the current evidence. Front Endocrinol. 2021. doi: /10.3389/fendo.2021.749050MedlinePlus.Leptin receptor deficiency.Cheng J, Luo Y, Li Y, Zhang F, Zhang X, Zhou X, Ji L.Sex- and body mass index-specific reference intervals for serum leptin: a population based study in China. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2022. doi: 10.1186/s12986-022-00689-x.Saint Luke’s.Leptin (Blood).Martins GMDS, França AKTDC, Viola PCAF, Carvalho CA, Marques KDS, Santos AMD, Batalha MA, Alves JDA, Ribeiro CCC.Intake of ultra-processed foods is associated with inflammatory markers in Brazilian adolescents. Public Health Nutr. 2022. doi: 10.1017/S1368980021004523.Hassanzadeh-Rostami Z, Faghih S.Effect of dietary fiber on serum leptin level: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2021. doi: 10.1055/a-0998-3883.Banks WA, Farr SA, Salameh TS, Niehoff ML, Rhea EM, Morley JE, Hanson AJ, Hansen KM, Craft S.Triglycerides cross the blood-brain barrier and induce central leptin and insulin receptor resistance. Int J Obes (Lond). 2018. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2017.231.Mosavat M, Mirsanjari M, Arabiat D, Smyth A, Whitehead L.The Role of Sleep Curtailment on Leptin Levels in Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus. Obes Facts. 2021. doi: 10.1159/000514095.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Liu J, Yang X, Yu S, Zheng R.The leptin resistance. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2018 doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-1286-1_8Gruzdeva O, Borodkina D, Uchasova E, Dyleva Y, Barbarash O.Leptin resistance: Underlying mechanisms and diagnosis. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2019. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S182406.Mendoza-Herrera K, Florio AA, Moore M, et al.The leptin system and diet: A mini review of the current evidence. Front Endocrinol. 2021. doi: /10.3389/fendo.2021.749050MedlinePlus.Leptin receptor deficiency.Cheng J, Luo Y, Li Y, Zhang F, Zhang X, Zhou X, Ji L.Sex- and body mass index-specific reference intervals for serum leptin: a population based study in China. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2022. doi: 10.1186/s12986-022-00689-x.Saint Luke’s.Leptin (Blood).Martins GMDS, França AKTDC, Viola PCAF, Carvalho CA, Marques KDS, Santos AMD, Batalha MA, Alves JDA, Ribeiro CCC.Intake of ultra-processed foods is associated with inflammatory markers in Brazilian adolescents. Public Health Nutr. 2022. doi: 10.1017/S1368980021004523.Hassanzadeh-Rostami Z, Faghih S.Effect of dietary fiber on serum leptin level: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2021. doi: 10.1055/a-0998-3883.Banks WA, Farr SA, Salameh TS, Niehoff ML, Rhea EM, Morley JE, Hanson AJ, Hansen KM, Craft S.Triglycerides cross the blood-brain barrier and induce central leptin and insulin receptor resistance. Int J Obes (Lond). 2018. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2017.231.Mosavat M, Mirsanjari M, Arabiat D, Smyth A, Whitehead L.The Role of Sleep Curtailment on Leptin Levels in Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus. Obes Facts. 2021. doi: 10.1159/000514095.
Liu J, Yang X, Yu S, Zheng R.The leptin resistance. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2018 doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-1286-1_8
Gruzdeva O, Borodkina D, Uchasova E, Dyleva Y, Barbarash O.Leptin resistance: Underlying mechanisms and diagnosis. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2019. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S182406.
Mendoza-Herrera K, Florio AA, Moore M, et al.The leptin system and diet: A mini review of the current evidence. Front Endocrinol. 2021. doi: /10.3389/fendo.2021.749050
MedlinePlus.Leptin receptor deficiency.
Cheng J, Luo Y, Li Y, Zhang F, Zhang X, Zhou X, Ji L.Sex- and body mass index-specific reference intervals for serum leptin: a population based study in China. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2022. doi: 10.1186/s12986-022-00689-x.
Saint Luke’s.Leptin (Blood).
Martins GMDS, França AKTDC, Viola PCAF, Carvalho CA, Marques KDS, Santos AMD, Batalha MA, Alves JDA, Ribeiro CCC.Intake of ultra-processed foods is associated with inflammatory markers in Brazilian adolescents. Public Health Nutr. 2022. doi: 10.1017/S1368980021004523.
Hassanzadeh-Rostami Z, Faghih S.Effect of dietary fiber on serum leptin level: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2021. doi: 10.1055/a-0998-3883.
Banks WA, Farr SA, Salameh TS, Niehoff ML, Rhea EM, Morley JE, Hanson AJ, Hansen KM, Craft S.Triglycerides cross the blood-brain barrier and induce central leptin and insulin receptor resistance. Int J Obes (Lond). 2018. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2017.231.
Mosavat M, Mirsanjari M, Arabiat D, Smyth A, Whitehead L.The Role of Sleep Curtailment on Leptin Levels in Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus. Obes Facts. 2021. doi: 10.1159/000514095.
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